Tbaction-engine



L A. WATSON. I TRACTION ENGINE.

1,307',9&4.-.

APPLICATION FILED DEC I4, i9I7' Patented J 11116 2%, 1919 4 HEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES f INVENT OR 0752222 e5 1?. K 21255020 ATTORNEY J. A. WATSON.

TRACTiON ENGiNL APPUCATION m'zo Die. 14, 1917. I

Patented J um) 24, MM.

4HEETS$HEET 3 mmma.

J (NVENTOR ATTORNEY 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

2 e n n d Ab m aw INVENTOR WITNESSS lll Slli

Fil ill JAMES A. "WATSON, F MARIDN, INDIANA.

traaerioia'nnoinn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24:, Milt).-

llpplication filed December M, 1917. Eerialll'o. 207,167.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Janos A. W'a'rson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in 'lfraction-l lngines, of which ons. and which may he also utilized as a snitionary engine for operating" pumps,

u 'ood sawing machines, thrcshinp; machines and the like.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine of this class having simple and improved steering mechanism. whereby it may be ahsolutely controlled alien in motion and which will enable eharp turns to he made when required.

A further object of the invention in to simplify and improve the steering mecha plain as well as the means for controlling the driving means and the transmission of mo tion.

With these and other ends in View which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improed construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will he hereinafter fully descriied and particularly pointed out in the claims.

iln the accompanying drawing" has been illustrated a simple and prclfcrred form of the invention, it being, luni'ever, understood that no limitation is uccesearily made to the precise structural details therein cxhihited. hut that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may he resorted to when desired.

in the drowning" Figure l is a view in side elevation of a tractor constmctcd in accordance with the invention. i

Fig. it is a top plan view, certain parts having; been removed for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the suhjaccnl' parts.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of thecontrolling levers and related parts.

Fig. 4: is a sectional detail view taken on the line 4i4 in Fig.

Fig. Iiis a detail view in side elevation showing a portion of one of the controlling levers.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the opposite side to that seen in Fig. 5. j

Fig.7 is asectioual detail view taken on the line 77 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a detail View partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of the steering gear. f

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail the line 1010 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a detail view, in side elevation of a hitching device which may be used in connection with the invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail View taken on the line 12-l2 in Fig. 4c.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters "of referonce.

The frame structure of the improved machine comprises what may be regarded as two distinct. and separate frames, namely the inner or main frame which is desig'i'iated generally hvA and the outer or circular frame designated by B, said circular frame heino' however, equipped with certain-rear- Wardly extending frame portions which will view taken on The circular frame B is composed as will be best seen in Figs. 1 and 10, of upper and lowerniembers of'angular shape in cross section each of said memberscomprising a substantially vertical wall portion 15 and a horizontally disposed flange 16, said flange Heii'ig; disposcd at the lower end of the vertical ll portion of the upper member and the uppcr odgc of the vertical wall portion of the lower iremher. [The upper and lower members which are specifically designated by C and l) respectively, are connected together hy holts 17 extending through the llOllZOl'ltRl ilflhfIOS 1G and spaced apartliy spacing: sleeves 18 that are mounted on the respective bolts intermediate the flanges 16. Said connecting and spacing. members are disposed adjacent iQmtllB outer edges of the horizontal flanges 16 so as not to interfere with the arr-aug'cuziuit and operation of other devices: which are to be hereafter described. The main frau'lc A has h'oeu shown as hemg of elongated hexagonal shape, the parts being so constructed and proportional that the corners of said frame will lie closelv adjacent to the vertical wall portions 15 ofthe eihe hereinafter more particularly deocribed.

' nel, and

circular "frame. included in the main frame A is an elongated rectangular supporting frame E provided at the corners thereof with brackets 19 carrying anti-frictional rollers 20 which operate between the horizontal flanges of the upper and lower menibers of the circular frame. The axle 21 lies substantially in the plane of the elongated rectangular frame E, the side members of which may be equipped with bearings for said axle, and the latter being provided at the ends thereof with anti-friction rollers 2% operating between the horizontal flanges 16 of the upper and lower members (3 and D of the circular frame. The axle is equipped with aground wheels 23 which are loosely mounted for rotation on the axle, each of said ground wheels having associated therewith a s rocket Wheel 24-. A portion of the elongatel hex gonal main frame A extends beneath the circular frame and connected with said downwardly ex ending portion at the corners thereof is an arcuate channel niember or guide 25 in which the steering chain 26 is uided. The arcuate channel or guide menr r extends through an arc of approximately 279 degrees,- extend ing; around what may be regarded as the forward portion andthe sides of the main fraine. The ends of the steering chain are made fast to the channel or guide at the points indicated. by 27 near the respu'tive ends of the chansaid steering; chain is trained over a sprocket wheel 28 which is fixed at the lowerend of the steering rod or shaft 2-9. The manner of constructing and supporting the steering rod or shaft will be presently described.

' Securely connected with the circular frame 15 at the rearward portion thereof is a transversely disposed frame bar 50 which is preferably of square tubular cross section and from the ends of which convcrgont frame bars 31 extend in a. rearward direction, said rcarwardly convergent frame bars being connected together by a bridge piece 32 which latter in turn is connected with-the frame bar Elli by a longitudinally disposed frame bar 33; The frame bar 3 3 supports a slide 34-. which may be longitudinally adjusted by an adjusting screw 35. lllountcd on the slide 34 and extending; upwardly therefrom is a tubular casing 36 in which telescopes a tube 37 which latter may be retained in adjusted position by a set screw 38. The tube 37 is provided at its pp CW1 th a fork 39 the limbs oi which ali'ord' bearings for a horizontally disposed tubular shaft 40 on which a beveled gear 41 is fixed between the limbs or" the fork. Telescoping in the tubular shaft 4d, and extend: ing entirely therethrough. is a steering rod 42, the same being; capable of being secured in position at various adjustments by a setscrew said steering rod or shaft being, aleo EPFOVldBd at its nearward end with a hand wheel or steering wheel 44. Telcscoping; in the tubular shaft 3'? is the tubular shaft 29 having; bore of square cross sectime as will be best seen in Fig. 2, said shalt carryingat its lower end, which. extends through toe slide 3 2%, the sprocket wheel 28. Telescoping! in the shaft is a shaft -15 which is of square cross section and which carries at its upper and a beveled gear 46 meshing with the beveled gear 4-1, suidbeveled gear 46 being stepped or supported on a bushing l7 formed on the bridgepiecc of the fork 39.

It will be observed that by n'ianipulating the hand wheel 44 the sprocket wheel 28 will be rotated about its axis, thereby rotating the inner or main frame A in a horizontal plane for the purpose of steering the i'nachine in the desired direction. y

The rectangular frame E which forms a 7M1} oi the main frame A is provided with bearings adjacent to the front and rear ends thereof for shafts, one of which is indicated c in Fig. 2, said shafts carrying contact 9., each consisting; of a. disk, the perimete of which abuts .on the vertical well paid": cs 1!) of. the upper and lower members if, lit of the circular frame. each of said contact i oeels having a circumferential flange 50 that extends between the horizontal flanges 16 of said top and bottom members between which the said flange 50 is guided. It will be seen that no mutter what may be the position of the main frame A relatively to the circular frame 13, the contact wheels will abut on the wall portions 15 of said circular frame, which latter will thus be pushed and compelled to move in the direction in which the main frame is driven.

The main frame A supports an engine or notov generally designated by l? which may.

be any desired type of internal combustion engine. The motor has been shown as being equipped with a main shaft :"ilcurryiug balance wheel 52 and a pulley 53 which may be used for transmission oi pouei' by means of an ordinary belt when the machine is used as a stationary engine. The motor is provided with the usual appurtenances including the cgnsolene tank 53 which is connected with the czn-bureter ill by a pipe having a valve the casing oi which is shown at 56 "for controlling: the (low of gasolene, said valve being; operated by :1 stem 57 or the rotation of which special means to he hereinafter described. are provided. 58 designates a countershaft carrying loose sprocket Wheels the sumo being: connected by chains 60 with the sprocket WlK ls 24 on the ground wheels or traction wheels 23 which, as previously described. are loosely Ill) mounted on the axle 21. For the puunose LSO'BWIM or operative/1 connecting the sprocket Wheels 59 with the couutcrshuilt 58 for rotation therewith, in order that rotury motion msy be imported to the tructioi'i wheels, clutches 61. ure provided, said clutches being keyed on thecountersluift for-rotation therewith and for slirleble movement with respect thereto so that the sun-l clutches may 62 may be moved to force the respective clutch members against the tension of the springs 63 and out of engugemcnt with the respective sprocket wheels 59 by means of cables G, said cables being guided over suitublv'arranged guide means, such as pull-z lcys G4 to surround movebly supported operating or actuating n'ienibcrs which will be hereinafter fully described.

For the purpose of trunsrnittingg motion fronrthe engine to the couutcrshsft means are provided inclutling a friction clutch H the slitlublc number of which is sctuutccl by u shi 'iping lever 66, fulcrunicrl st 6? anti which is actuated by :1 spring b8 whereby the slirluble men'iber of the clutch is 1101": molly hehl out of engagement with its mute.

The shipping; lever 66 inuy be moved against the tension of the spring; 68 so as to place the slirlublc clutch member in active engagement with its mute by means of u csble ll" which is guided over suitably urrungeol pulleys 69 to u movubly supported operutin; member which will be presently. describe The poltion 51' of the motor shaft which is driven by the friction clutch H curries u inion 70 which meshes -vvith two oppoeco cveled gesrs 71 which are loosely mounted on the countershul't, but either one of which may be locked on the coui'itcrshutlt for rotution therewith by metrics of :1 double clutch. 722' which is keyed on the countersheft intermediate the beveled gears 71 so thut it may occupy a neutral position intermediate the said beveled gears, or it may be moved into engagement with either one of the beveled gears by means of :1 shipping lever 73 F111- crumcd lit 74-, A spring 75 is provirlcd whereby the shipping lever i3 is actuated so as to normally force the clutch member 72 in the direction of one of the beveled gears 71. The shipping lever however: may be actuated so as to sustain the clutch member 2'2 is a neutral position and to more it in engagement with the otherbeveled gem? 71 by moons of a cubic 1K guficierl over suitably arranged guide pulleys lilac u Inovcbly supported operating; soul Iuctuuting member which will he presently described.

The engine :nul. appurtenances ere surrounded. and protected by :1 frame structure including vorticully disposed uprights 77 and horizontal frame burs Tb. Rising from said Frame structure is a tubular post 79 of square section. Mounted on said post for slicluble movement thereon are four collars designated respectively b v g, j, g and Z: reading from the bottom upward, said collars having the cables G, J, G and K connected therewith in the order named. It will be evident by moving; the respective .collars upwardly on the post 79, the ship- 'ping" levers with which the respective cables ere connected will be operated against the tension of the respective springs. Means are provided whereby the movement of the rcspective'collurs may be governed, thereby placing the operator in full control of the friction clutch whereby the machine is started and stopped, the clutches controlling the operation of the traction wheels, and the clutch controlling thereversing gear. Tole-- scoping in the tubular post 79 is u tube 80 having a circular bore, said tube 80 being capable of being retained at various udjustments by s set screw 81; Telescoping in the tube 80 1s a tube 82 huvlng u square or noncircular bore curl telescoping in the lust mentioned tube is the valve stem 57'which actuntes the controlling valve in the casing l'llfrn tube 852 curries at its upper cool e beveled gear 83 which is normally supported on the upper end of the tube 80. L designates u lever stand rising from the circular frame B. The lever stand supports at its upper end a shaft 84: on which four levers G, J, G and K are supported for rocking movement, said levers being of siniila'r but special construction which is best illustrated in Figs 3, 5 and 6 and which will now be described. I

Each or"? said levers includes a long arm 85 and s short arm 86, said long and short arms being independentlyfulcrumerl on the shaft 8land said long arm being; provided with e telscoping cutensioulll'. The short arm 86 has a bend forming s. tootb'ed segmcnt 88, the some being engaged by c spring actuated (log 89 curried by the long arm 85, thereby enabling: the long and short arms to he a ljusted and retained at various angular positions with'rclution to each other. Supported on the long arm 85 is u slid-able (log 90, the sumo being l'HOlllllKHl in keepers 91 one of which contains u spring 92 whereby the (log is normally movml in engagement with a segment ruck 173 which is fixed on and sup portctl by the shaft $4. The sliding (log 90 carries a spimlle 94 on which is mounted a rcvoluble spool 1.95 the spindle being provided with :1 nut 96 whereby the spool may be secured against rotation. The telescopic extension 7, for the retention of which at various adjustments, u set screw 97 is provitlcrl, curries a, short pivoted arm 98 having said arm 98 bein connected with the spool 95 by a flexible e ement such as e cord 100.

When the extension member 87 is adjusted for the purpose of varying the eiiective length of the lever arm 85, the nut 96 is loosened and the spool 95 is rotated for the purpose of letting out the cord 10 0 or taking up slackin said cord as may be required, the nut 96 being tightened for the purpose oi firmly securing the spool when'the cord has been drawn taut, proper allowance being made however, for permitting the spring actuated slide or dog 90 to remain in engagement. with the rack segment 93. The lever composed of the arms 85 and 86 will thus be retained in position, but by pressing the handle 99 of the arm 98 the slide may be disengaged from the segment ruck, thereby permitting the lever to be adjusted about the axis of the shaft 84.

Each of the slidable collars g, j, g and is p 101 occupied by a loosely fitting band 102 having a radially extending arm 103 with which is connected one end of a link 1% the other end of which is pivotelly connected.

with the short arm 86'to one of the re tive levers G, J, G and K. It f Ws that by rocking any one of said levers about the axis of the shaft 84 the corresponding collar on the post'79 may be lifted so as to actuate the shipping lever connected therewith. The triinsmission and reversing gear of the machine will thus be under control oi the operator by proper adjustment of the several levers. It will also be seen that when it shall he desired, a roper adjustment of the levers,to suit the ength of the connecting cables and for any other purposes may he eiiected by relative adjustment or the long and short arms of said lever ltwill furthermore be seen that when the inner frame is turned by operation of the steering gearing, the collars carried on the square tubular post will turn with said post, there by maintaining the connecting cable in proper relation with respect to said collars -and to the shipping levers. The tubular post 79 rises .on the line of the axis about which the main frame A is turned by the steering gear, and hence the proper position will be maintained between said post and the operating levers.

Supported on the shaft 84 and fixedly connected therewith is a tubular member 105, best. seen in Fig. 8 in which a second tube 106 is revolubly mounted, said second tube telescopes arod 107 havinga terminal crank 108, said rod-being capable of being secured at various adjustments by a set screw 109. The tube 106 curries a beveled gear 110 which is capable of meshing with the beveled gear 83 whereby the valve stem 57 may be roprovided with a circumferential groove assures tated, the tube 106 being capable of being rotated by the crank rod 107. Normally however, the beveled gear 110 is retracted with respect to the beveled gear 83 by means of a spring 111. connected at one end with the tubular member 105 and :it the other end with a collar'lli which is erolubly mounted on the tube 101' By pushing the crank red 10? inc forward direction the beveled gears 110 and may be placed in mesh and the rod 16? may now be turned by the crank 108 to effect desired adjustment of the valve rod for the purpose 0'? controlling the flow of gasolene. When the desired adjustment has been made the c uultrod is rol ed and the retracting spring: will now serv to place the beveled out of mesh. When the tube telescoping in the tubular post 79 is raised or lowered, n corresptmding mljustnient of the tubular member 105 may be efr ected by temporarily releasing; the set screws 113 whereby it is lined on the shuttafter which-the tubular member may be i'll" d to ill) rearwari'lly entcruling frame bars 115 u-ro pigoizcily connected by i'oi: members 116. Each of the sidebars 115i is providwl with slide 117 adjustable thereon by a pin H8, said slide having an arm 11? and pivotolly connected therewith by :1 pivot member 12?, The arms 11?) are-adapted to telescope in the tubular frame bar 30 with which said arms are adjustubly connected by pins 121. it be ing obvious that a plurality of apertures are provided for engagement with the respective pins 118 and 1%. By temporarily removing the pins 118 and 121 the arms 119 may be variously adjusted in the tubular "frame bar 30 thereby varying the distance between the rearward ends of the side frame bu 115 which latter, together with the arms 119, are capable of rocking on the pivot members li and 1120 to g'ierinit the desired adjustment to be made. After completing such adjustment the parts may be reassembled by proper replacement of the pins 118 and 121. Mounted on the trans? bars 115 adjacent, tothe rearward ends thereof are supporting; members 122 in which are journulcd vertically disposed sl'uuilzs 523 such having; a fork 124% in which a c er wheel 125i is jour nailed, said caster wheels con eone ii an upright 127 held securely by a brace 128, said upright being provided with several apertures 129 forthe reception of a shank 130 carrying a block 131 having a recess 13:2 in the face thereof. The hitching device also includes a supporting member 133 mounted on the frame 'bar 115 and carrying a drum or spool 18-1 with which is connected one end at 1 11 or suitable fixed parts of the machine may be seated in the recesses 132 of the respective blocks 141 after which the cable 135 may be brought around such axle or the like, the hook 136 being made fast to the connecting member 137. The drum 134. may now be rotated until the cable has been drawn tight or taut, thereby completing the connection, reverse rotation of the drum being prevented by the dog 11d engaging the ratchet Wheel-139.

When the tractor is hitched to awagon .orbtlier vehicle or agricultural machine,

end of the tractor being supported by the carrying Wheels of the wagon or machine 1 with which the tractor is connected. It will also be stated that it may be found desirable to provide a hitch of special construction to be used when the tractor is to be hitched to a binder. Such special hitching device it is not considered necessary, however, to describe herein.

.From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of the improved traction engine will be readily understood. The construction will be found simple and inexpensive and of such a nature that the machine may be readily handled by one operator. It will be particularly noted that special provision has been made for the longitudinal and vertical adjustment of those parts of the controlling devices which require to be manually actuated by the operator so as to bring such parts Within the convenient reach of the operator Whose station will obviously be changed in accordance with the nature of the wagon, machine or implement to be drawn by the tractor, While still other ad justments may be made to suit the position of the operator when the tractor is driven by itself. The tractor may be ears ily andcompletely reversed and driven forward or backward as maybe required, The

will.

tractor also readily adapts itself to the turn .ing of sharp corners, such turning being: facilitated by interrupting the rotation of the'right or left traction wheel according to the direction in which the turn is to he made. The major part of the frame structure is preferably n'ladc ol tubular steel or iron (but it is obvious that no limitation is made or intended in this respect.

1. In. a traction engine, a wheel supported main frame and means for driving! the some, said main frame having; supporting members arranged in an approxin'lately ll n'izontal plane, a circular frame comprising upper and. lower members oi angular cross section suitably connected and spaced apart, said upper and lower members rtwciringg supporting members between them and contact wheels supported by the main frame and constantly contacting with the vertical wall portions of the angular top and bottom members of the circular frame, said contact wheels having;- circumfercntia-l flanges re ceived between the horizontal,llangres ol the angular top and bottom members of the cir cular i 3111C. I

In a traction cntrfinc, a cii' bular frame having angular top and bottom members connected and spaccdiapart,a wheel supportedmain frame arranged within the cir-' cular frame and supporting the same, means carried by thecircular frame whereby the main frame may he rotatcd within the same albout an approxilmitcly vertical axis and rotary Contact means carried at the front and rear ends of the main frame, said rostantly abut upon diametrically opposed portions of the circular frame.

3; In a traction engine. a wheel supported main frame. a circular frame surrounding the main frame and carried thereby, means whereby the main frame may he axially rotated within the circular frame, a motor carried by the main "frame and having a driven shaft, a counter-shafthaving; clutch controlled gearing for transmitting motion to the traction. wheels supporting the main frame and a clutch controlled reversing gear, means including a friction clutch for transmitting motion from the motor shaft to the counter-shaft, shipping levers for actuating the traction clutch and clutches controlling the reversing; gear and the means for trans mitting motion to the traction wheels, springs whereby each of said shipp ng; ia-

was Will be actuated in one direction anti 1 frame, collars titted for slidaible movement l All on post, suitably guided flexible con nectlng means between mid collars and the respective clutch levers, and menus for moi ing the collars and for controlling the movemenj; and ad ustment thereof,

4:. In e trevction'engine, a wheel supported main frame, e circular frame carried by the main frame and Within which said. main frame axially, revolnble, confine-t; Wheels carried hy'thefnrein frame and contacting with die-metrically opposite portions of the circuler frame, moons for indepcnzlently driving the traction wheels on which the main mm is supported, for interrupting such movement, for reversing the direction of rotation and for transmitting motion from a source of power to mini reversing "and trensmiwion means, said means incluclping levers, frame members connected with the circular frame, a lover stand rising from said frame members, e shaft carried by the lever stand, levers 'fulcrumed on said shaft- .end having long and short arms, bands revolu'loly connected with the eiiduhle collars and having redial arms, links connectmg said redial arms "With the short arms of the lovers, and means for securing the levers at various adjustments 5. in a traction engine of the class desecrihcil, 2r steering gear including a steering Ollfitll'l, sprocket wheel over which sei chain is trained, a vertically disposed revolnble member carrying said sprocket wheel, telescoping c.;tcnsion members, one of which marries; a beveled gear and another of which cerrics a fork, a tubular member revoluble in the fork and carrying a, beveled gear with the first-mentioned beveled gear, extension member SlldfllblB in the tubular inenilm' and having a hand wheel,

and means for securing the telescoping members in position at various adjustments; in combination with ion edjustably supported slide carrying the i'evolu'ble member on which the sprocket Wheel is secured, and means for adjusting the slide to tighten the steering chain.

in e traction engine, the combination of a main frame having a plurality of vex" tically-(lisposed anti-friction members arranged in a horizontal plane, Wheels supporting said main frame, means for propelling the main frame, and a circular frame comprising upper and lower spaced members'between which the vertical anti-friction members of the main frame are received and guided, and horizontal contact wheels carried by the main frame and' constantly abutting on the inner surfaces of the circulzu' frame members and having circumferential flanges extending between said momiaers.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAE/ ES A. WATSON. 

